So, reading this will be easier if you don't think about the logic of the timeline. XD Everything is basically the same except Qui-Gon survived. Obi-Wan still trained Anakin, all the relationships are still the same. Like I said, just don't think too hard about it. XD Just enjoy!
The official military base of the GAR was buzzing with activity, though not the usual to and fro of planetary battle campaigns. No, something was different, off, and General Jinn sensed it the moment he set foot out of the gunship.
"Uh, General?" His clone commander began, joining him where he stood in the middle of the chaos.
"You're guess is as good as mine, Quin," Qui-Gon replied, arms crossed as he scanned the massive docking bay for a familiar face. Well, they were mostly all familiar faces, but he was looking for a Jedi General or a member of the Council in particular, not a trooper.
"Hey," he heard Quin bark at some private dashing past them, "what's going on here?"
The private, who Qui-Gon recognized by the color of his armor to be one of Plo's Boys, slowed his run long enough to offer a brief explanation. "Backup mission, sir."
"Back-up? On what campaign?" Quin demanded to know and Qui-Gon admired his second-in-command's persistence.
"General Skywalker's requested reinforcements on Kadavo."
And then he was gone, disappearing into a cluster of clones stocking a nearby medical craft.
A medical ship. Qui-Gon's heart skipped a beat. Was Anakin in danger? And Ahsoka, what about her? Was she safe? Was she in trouble?
While this war had prepared him for the constant possibility of death, the loss of his dear Great Grand-Padawan was something he wasn't yet prepared to handle.
And where was Obi-Wan in all this?
His feet were moving before his mind could decide where they were headed. He needed to find Plo Koon; to find out what in the stars was going on. Qui-Gon found the Jedi Master preparing to board the main gunship docked further down the hangar floor.
"Qui-Gon," Plo greeted him cordially, but the general found his smile lacking. "Back so soon from Felucia?"
"The Separatist threat on that planet was a joke," Qui-Gon replied. "It didn't take long to wipe out their forces there. It looks as if your troops are anxious to be somewhere."
The Kel Dor Master's expression changed, clearly warning Qui-Gon not just to conclusions.
"Anakin and Ahsoka need backup. My troops and I are preparing an assault on the Kadavo System."
"Isn't that in Wild Space?"
Plo Koon nodded, breaking off the conversation for a moment to instruct several troopers.
"And refresh my memory, if you will," Qui-Gon continued, his tone the essence of passive-aggressive, "isn't that system under the control of the Zygerrian Slave Empire?"
"That is correct, my friend."
"Then why, I wonder, are my Padawans requesting reinforcements from such a seemingly awful place? I don't recall any Separatist forces stationed so far out of the reaches of the Republic."
An alarm blared, cutting off any reply the other general was about to offer. It was the signal for all ships to begin their ascent into the waiting flagship above.
"I'm sorry, Qui-Gon, I have to go."
"But why—?"
"I'm afraid this is a matter you'll have to take up with the Council." And without another word, General Plo Koon stepped into the gunship, saluting Qui-Gon before the doors closed.
"Oh, believe me," Qui-Gon muttered as the ship's engines fired up, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, "I will."
"When were you thinking would be the best time to tell me?" Qui-Gon began, fixing his hardest glare on Mace Windu, who looked as if he wanted to be anywhere but standing with his old friend. "Before or after they were captured?"
"The situation is still unclear," Mace replied, voice laced with caution.
"Then make it clear, Mace. Make it clear to me why the Council thought it would be a good idea to send them on such a dangerous undercover mission? We have plenty of Shadows who would have been up to the task!"
"Listen, Qui, it didn't begin as an undercover mission. The main objective was to free the colonists of Shili from Dooku and the Separatists. Things apparently got out of hand and—"
"I'll say they did!"
"And both Skywalker and Kenobi made the conscious decision to move ahead with the mission. The Council was not included in the final say, we were only there as a guide."
Those idiots… Of course Anakin would be the first one involved with anything involving the liberation of slaves, a worrying thought to say the least. And Obi-Wan would be right behind him.
"And don't forget," Mace continued, "Obi-Wan is on the Council."
Right. He supposed that was something he would never get used to.
Qui-Gon heaved a sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. "All right. Just tell me what the damage is."
Here, Mace hesitated. "No one knows yet."
"You mean to say you haven't kept in contact with them?"
"We lost contact about a week ago," the stoic Jedi Master confessed.
Qui-Gon's expression was livid. "A week? And you didn't think to send out reinforcements? You had to wait until Anakin asked for them specifically?"
"That is usually how it goes, as I'm sure you're well aware."
"Yes, I am well aware!" Qui-Gon snapped. "What I want to know is why in the Seven Hells of Corellia did you let them do it? You know they aren't trained for this sort of mission! Especially not Ahsoka!"
"I told you, the Council wasn't included in the final decision, and everything that occurred after we lost contact was up to them. It was their choice, Qui-Gon."
Obi-Wan should've known better. Anakin he could trust to avenge his emotions at any given moment, but Obi-Wan…
He should've known better.
Or perhaps he did. Perhaps he knew exactly what he was doing; knew the consequences of continuing the mission.
And the consequences of giving up.
Qui-again shuddered to think of all those colonists being held at the mercy of some of the worst slavers in the galaxy.
Bring them home soon, Plo, he pleaded as he felt a hand brush lightly against his shoulder.
"They're going to be all right, Qui-Gon. Plo Koon will bring them home safely, and then you can scold them till your heart's content."
"Don't think I won't," Qui-Gon replied, but his feeble attempt at humor fell short in the wake of the situation. His mind was racing, running through each possible scenario; every way they could possibly be killed, or worse.
"Anakin and Ahsoka need backup."
Plo's words echoed over and over again through his mind. There was something wrong with the statement, yet he couldn't seem to figure it out.
"Anakin and Ahsoka need backup."
"Anakin and Ahsoka need backup."
"Anakin and Ahsoka…"
Qui-Gon's breath hitched and he suddenly found the air in the room lacking.
Anakin and Ahsoka…
… Where's Obi-Wan?
Thoughts? :)